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Everytown, California Moms, Gun Violence Survivors Applaud Senate Committee Passage of Legislation Aimed at Closing Unusual and Dangerous Gap in California’s Background Check Law

5.10.2016

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and members of the Everytown Survivor Network, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded the introduction and Senate Public Safety Committee passage of Assembly Bill 1511.

California is one of 18 states that have closed the background check loophole and require a criminal background checks on all handgun sales. However, California’s existing background check law includes an unusual and dangerous loophole, which is broader than any other state that requires criminal background checks on all gun sales. California’s “lending loophole” allows anyone to borrow a gun for up to 30 days without a background check and allows a person with a California hunting license to borrow a long gun and keep it for the entire hunting season.

Assembly Bill 1511 would bring California in line with the vast majority of the states with comprehensive background check laws, including neighboring states like Washington and Oregon.

STATEMENT FROM SARA SMIRIN, A VOLUNTEER WITH THE CALIFORNIA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“California has long been a leader in gun safety laws, but the lending loophole that exists in our background check law enables dangerous people to get their hands on a gun, no background check, no questions asked. Assembly Bill 1511 is a step toward ensuring we do all we can to help prevent gun violence here in California and we urge our lawmakers to vote yes on this legislation. Let’s make sure we have an air-tight system to help keep guns out of dangerous hands – the safety of our communities depends on it.”

STATEMENT FROM RICHARD MARTINEZ, A MEMBER OF THE EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK AND SENIOR ASSOCIATE FOR EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY, WHOSE SON CHRISTOPHER ROSS MICHAELS-MARTINEZ WAS KILLED IN THE MAY 2014 SHOOTING IN ISLA VISTA:

“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of my son, Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, who was shot and killed in Isla Vista California nearly two years ago. That’s why I support Assembly Bill 1511, which will strengthen our background check law and work to keep guns out of dangerous hands – ultimately, saving lives. AB 1511 closes an unusual loophole in our current law and would continue to place California in the forefront of the national effort to keep our families safe from gun violence. I urge our Assembly members to vote yes on AB 1511 to make our families safer.”